Letters to the Editor

Management vital

Future: Sawmiller Shawn Britton talks sawlog supply with Minister Guy Barnett, which David Dean says must be managed for the future of industry.

Much of Circular Head’s forests including large tracts of 'the Tarkine' were burnt out by wildfires in 1961.

In 1962 I assisted with regeneration surveys to measure these burnt forests for stocking density, and they became new or regenerated Tarkine trees to be proud of.

I recently milled a tree, aged 56, grown from this wildfire and this highlighted what nature can achieve in less than a human lifetime.

Whether regeneration from wildfire or human management our native forests are truly sustainable and should not be locked away as, like us, they grow old and decay - so why not use them while in their prime?

I applaud the state government's policy efforts to have the locked up areas of state forests released once again to be managed scientifically and sustainably as a vital resource for our sawmilling industry.

David Dean, Wynyard

Political qualities

Let’s hope Phil Elliot (Adv., May 20) was reunited with his disappearing glider.

Whilst dealing with a grumpy young heifer, Phil found himself staring skywards after slipping on cow doo-doo, but alas, losing sight of his model plane.

I’d like to see Phil nominated for Parliament, it’s plain he has the required attributes.

There will be a vacancy shortly as Bill Shorten’s polls spiralling downwards, while the Labor Party’s are on the up.

Rick Cordell, Devonport

Investment winner

The State Budget has been delivered, and with it comes a welcome surplus and ability to invest in health and education.

To put the Hodgman government’s approach into context (Adv., May 25), the Treasurer Peter Gutwein states, “Rather than having a surplus just for the sake of it, we’ve allocated as much money as possible into frontline services, especially health, but we’ve made sure we’re spending less than what we earn”. Essentially, Gutwein’s approach is focussed on being fiscally responsible in terms of maintaining a respectable surplus, whilst investing as much as possible in areas such as health.

Further, this approach demonstrates the hallmarks of a form of responsible government, of which will please a considerable proportion of taxpayers.

The winners of this budget?... the importance of significant investment in health services, which will result in approximately 200 more nurses!

Paris Shacklock, Devonport

Not rubbish

Imagine a cubic kilometre of ice, sides 1km, as high as three Ulurus. Now imagine a line of these cubes stretching from Strahan to Smithton to Scottsdale. This the amount of ice NASA estimates is now melting each year from Antarctica and Greenland.

But even with this massive amount of ice melting the water is flowing into the sea with a mass of 1,338,000,000 cubic kilometres. This results in a sea level rise of only a few millimetres a year but unfortunately this is steadily increasing.

All the variables mentioned by Darrell Poke, have little to no effect on sea level rise. For example the two billion tonnes (two cubic kilometres of water) of world shipping elevates the level of the oceans by six micros which is the diameter of spider silk.

Darrell may think the predictions made by scientists are rubbish but they are based on the conclusions they’ve reached after years of research using billions of dollars worth of equipment and it is pleasing that people around the world respect these predictions and are acting on them.

Steve Ingham, Wynyard

Waste wonder?

Why aren't they catching fish farm waste and turning it into garden fertiliser like Seasol?